Overwrapping machine



A. c. izepu: ET AL April 21, 1970 OVERWRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 23', 1966 a WWW m a may (m m an H mt My? NQQQRG B QQRPA v l April 21, 1970 A. c MIZELLE ET AL 3,507,091

OVERWRAPPING MACHINE Fild Nov. 23, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet A ril 21, 1970 A. vc. MIZELLE E AL 1 3,507,091

QVERWRAPPING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 23, 1966 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 547/0/VZZ' ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,507,091 1 OVERWRAPPING MACHINE Adrian C. Mizelle and Robert D. Gillespie, Petersburg,

Va., assignors to Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 596,667 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Oct. 15, 1985, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. B65b 11/12, 49/08 US. Cl. 53-131 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wrapping machine for enclosing at least one package which includes a support, a supply means of wrapping material and a package feeder means part of which is on the support for receiving and feeding packages. A wrapping material feeding means is also on the support for feeding a length of wrapping material to a location at which the package is wrapped therewith. Plunger means are positioned on the support for moving the package into engagement with the length of wrapping material and then moving the engaged package and length of wrapping material to a second location at which the length of wrapping material is partially enclosed about the package. Finally, pasting and folding means are employed on the support for applying paste to certain parts of the partially enclosing length of wrapping material and completing the folding of this length of wrapping material about the package to complete the package in which the package is enclosed by the length of wrapping material.

The present invention relates to an overwrapping machine and, more particularly, to a machine designed to apply a wrapper to a carton containing packages of such articles as cigarettes.

In some instances, it is desirable, if not necessary, to apply a wrapping material to a carton containing articles such as cigarette packages. For example, a wrapper of moisture barrier material may be required to be applied over the cigarette carton for purposes of excluding moisture and prevent it from reaching the contained cigarettes in relatively humid climates and environments. On the other hand, wrapping material of one type or another may be desired when it is contemplated that the cigarette cartons will be stored for an appreciable period of time either in extremely humid or dry environments or perhaps extreme cold and warm climates. Under the circumstances, low cost and efficient apparatus and techniques for applying wrapping material to cartons is of extreme importance particularly in keeping the cost to the consumer of the wrapped articles relatively low.

[It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved overwrapping machine for cartons and a wrapping machine that may form an integral part of a cartoner in order that the formed cartons may be immediately wrapped.

Another object is to provide a machine of this type in which a substantial saving in labor is realized by minimizing, if not eliminating, the requisite amount of attendant personnel between the stage at which a cigarette carton is produced and the stage at which the formed carton is wrapped while maintaining optimum reliability and performance of such equipment over prolonged periods of time.

An overwrapping machine of this invention is provided with an inlet end which is adapted to be coupled directly to the discharge end of a cartoner which operates to automatically place a number of packages such as packages of cigarettes in a carton. These cartons are individually delivered to a station at which a reciprocal plunger drives the carton into a predetermined length of wrapping material to initiate the folding of the wrapping material about the carton. During this movement, the wrapping material will be placed over the leading side of the carton together with the top and bottom carton faces as well as the forward portions of the carton ends. This action of the plunger places the partially wrapped carton at a station at which glue or paste is applied to the exterior of the trailing side bottom flap of the wrapping material. Immediately thereafter, the trailing side lower flap of the wrapping material is folded upwardly and the trailing side top fiat is folded downwardly to thereby cause the flaps to overlap and be adhered to one another by the applied paste. The carton and wrapper are then moved to the next station upon the next reciprocation of the plunger. At this station and during the retraction of the plunger, the rear portions of the wrapper projecting ends are folded forwardly against the carton ends by a tucking mechanism. A bottom end flap folding mechanism folds the protecting lower portion of the wrapper ends upwardly against the folded or tucked forward and rear portions of the wrapper ends. The next reciprocation of the plunger will place the nearly completely wrapped carton at the next station. At this station and during the retraction of the plunger, paste is applied to the interior of the top end flaps of the wrapping material. Thereafter, the carton is moved to the next station as a result of the following reciprocation of the plunger and during this movement, the top end flaps of the wrapping material are folded downwardly to place the end flaps in contact with one another in a secure manner by means of the interposed adhesive. The carton is now completely Wrapped and is fed to a discharge station following one or more reciprocations of the plunger whereupon a predetermined number of the wrapped cartons are placed in boxes for commercial shipment.

Numerous other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary and diagrammatic view illustrating the sequence of operations performed by the Wrapping machine of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the several stations of the wrapping machine;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken alOng the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4 to 13 are perspective view showing the sequence of steps involved in wrapping a carton in accordance with this invention.

In the drawings, a wrapping machine 10 is shown coupled with the discharge end of a cartoning machine 12 which may assume one of a number of embodiments as, for example, the cartoning machine disclosed in commonly assigned application Ser. No. 512,382, filed Dec. 8, 1965, to which reference is also made for details applicable to the instant wrapping machine 10. A cartoning machine 12 of that type is adapted to automatically enclose ten cellophane wrapped cigarette packages in a carton. These cartons 14 of cigarette packages are fed between substantially horizontally disposed plates 16 and 18 forming part of the chassis of the cartoning machine 12.

The wrapping machine 10 receives the individual cartons 14 and automatically supplies a predetermined length 20 of the selected wrapping material to encase the carton according to the prescribed requirements. This length 20 of wrapping material is cut from the Web 22 leading from a supply roll 24 of such material. The roll 24 is suitably mounted so as to be rotatable to facilitate the feeding of the web 22 upon demand. The web 22 extends from the roll 24 about idler rollers 26 and 28 between a pair of feed rollers 30 and 32 and spaced guide plates 34 and 36 to a pair of cooperating cutting rollers 38 and 40. The rotation of the drive rollers 30 and 32 in relation to the rotation of the cooperating cutting rollers 38 and 40 is such that the predetermined length 20 will be severed from the web 22 for each carton 14 and in synchronization with the movement of each carton.

The packages 14 discharged by the cartoning machine 12 pass through the inlet opening 42 at the inlet end of the wrapping machine 10 and are driven into substantial engagement with the upstanding vertical wall 44 and are suspended by means of a pair of hingedly supported pivotal arms 46 and 48. Each of these arms 46 and 48 are provided with counterweights 50 and 52, respectively, for placing the arms in substantial horizontal carton supporting relationship. Under these circumstances, the arms 46 and 48 will support the carton 14 driven in through the inlet opening 42. In assuming this position, the leading side end of the carton 14 trips the microswitch 54 which may be supported by the wall 44.

Upon actuation of the switch 54, a cylinder-piston assembly 56 similarly mounted on the wall 44 is operated whereby the carton 14 is forced downwardly between the pivotal arms 46 and 48 between plates 43 and 44 onto the horizontally disposed supporting plate 58. The cylinder-piston assembly 56 may be of the pneumatic type with the cylinder 60 being supported on the plate 44 by means of a pair of supporting brackets 62 and 64. The outer and free end of the piston rod 66 has keyed thereto a pusher plate 68 which is adapted to be slightly spaced from the top face of the carton 14 when supported by the pivotal arms 46 and 48 when the piston rod 66 is in a retracted position. When switch 54 actuates the assembly 56, the piston rod 66 and, consequently, the pusher plate 68 will be shifted outwardly and, as shown, downwardly against the supported or suspended carton 14 to force this carton free of the arms 46 and 48 whereupon it may drop freely onto the horizontal plate 58. When the carton 14 drops on the horizontal plate 58, another microswitch 70 is tripped to thereby cause actuation of piston cylinderassembly 72 which operates to drive the awaiting carton into the vertically suspended length 20 of wrapping material. In the inoperable condition of assembly 72, the piston rod 74 is retracted within the cylinder 76 such that the affixed pusher plate 78 is slightly spaced from the rear side end of the carton 14. Upon forward projection of the piston rod 14 and the attached pusher plate 78 upon actuation of the switch 70, the carton 14 will be eventually engaged by the arm 78 and driven forwardly between the plate 58 and an upper plate 80 into the length 20. It will be noted that at the start of the forward movement of the piston rod 74, a radially projecting arm 82 will open a switch 84 in circuit with the switch 54 which will prevent the piston cylinder assembly 56 from being actuated while the rod 74 and arm 78 move to drive the carton 14 forwardly and while it is returning to their retracted position. This switch 84 will be closed by the arm 82 when the piston rod is returned to its retracted position. In addition, this switch 84 will operate to actuate the feed rollers 30 and 32 to lower another length 20 of the wrapping material. As will be appreciated from the drawings, this length 20 is adapted to be lowered through the accommodating openings 86 and 88 in upper plate 80 and lower plate 58, respectively.

The partially encased carton 14 is now at the third station of the wrapping machine; and incident to the driving of the carton together with the associated length 20 of wrapping material between the plates 58 and 80, the wrapping material will be folded about the carton so as to provide a front panel 90, a top panel 92, and a bottom panel 94. In addition, forward end flaps 96 will be folded rearwardly. In this connection, the forward end flaps 96 will be folded-rearwardly by means of the end plates 100.

The third station of the wrapping machine may be termed the trailing flap pasting end folding station; and at this station, the pasting mechanism 104 is initially operated to apply a predetermined pattern of paste to the underside of the trailing bottom flap 106 of the Wrapper. This occurs immediately following the placement of the partially encased carton 14 at the third station. In this connection, a paste pot 107 is conveniently mounted by the wrapping machine chassis and is adapted to contain a suitable amount of the selected paste for adhering the upper trailing flap 108 to the lower trailing flap 106 to one another. A rod-shaped applicator 110 is disposed over the pot 107 and is adapted to have its applicator head be immersed into the contained paste and then retracted therefrom such that the head 112 applies a spot of paste to the under or outer face of the bottom trailing flap 106. Towards this end, the applicator rod 110 is keyed to a shaft 114 which is suitably journaled at its ends for rotation. One of the shaft ends is keyed to arm 116 which, in turn, is pivotally connected with the outer free end of a piston rod 118 extending from air cylinder 120. Operation of this cylinder is on demand following the placement of the partially wrapped carton 14 at the third station. Upon operation of the air cylinder 120, the applicator head 112 will apply the desired pattern of paste to the under face of bottom trailing flap 106.

Immediately following the application of the paste by the applicator head 112, the trailing bottom flap 106 is folded upwardly and thereafter the trailing top flap 108 is folded downwardly to cause these flaps to be adhered to one another by the selected pattern of the interposed paste. In this connection, the bottom trailing flap folding plate 122' is adapted to be shifted upwardly to have its top edge engage the bottom flap 106 and continue this movement until the flap is firmly against the trailing side of the carton 14. The top flap folding plate 124 is shifted upwardly while the lower plate 122 is shifted upwardly and will be moved downwardly when the lower plate 122 is retracted. These movements are synchronized with one another through an interconnecting gear and sprocket timing arrangement, for example. This synchronized movement, on the other hand, may be accomplished by the employment of the illustrated structure wherein each plate is coupled with a guided and slidable cam follower 128 and 130, respectively. These followers are biased against cams 132 and 134, both of which include interrupted surfaces. The recess of each surface is relatively disposed such that it is encountered by the respective cam follower to elevate the associated folding plate against the bias of the associated springs 136. Under these circumstances, the upper plate 126 will remain in a lower position after the top trailing flap 108 is folded downwardly to maintain the folded relationship between the overlapped flaps 106 and 108; and the interposed paste is maintained in contact with these flaps until such time as the following partially encased carton 14 is fed into engagement therewith upon the next reciprocation of the plunger assembly 72. Immediately before the partially encased cartons are placed in abutting relationship, the upper plate 126 will be reciprocated upwardly. At such time as this abutting relationship is attained, the partially encased carton at the third station will be shifted to the next or fourth station. It should be understood that other synchronized means for raising and lowering the plates 126 and 122 are contemplated including an arrangement of cam followers that engage with the tops of the associated cams.

The partially wrapped carton is then moved to station IV upon the next reciprocation of the plunger assembly 72. At this station and during the retraction of the piston rod 74 and arm 78, the rear end flaps 137 Will be tucked forwardly and inwardly against the end of the carton 14 by the tucking mechanism 138. This mechanism comprises a pivotal normally raised tucking arm 139 which is actuated by the air piston cylinder assembly 140 to pivot downwardly to tuck the rear end flap 137 and immediately return thereafter to its raised position.

Immediately thereafter, the bottom end flap folding mechanism 141 will fold the bottom end flap 142 upwardly into engagement with the folded front end flap 96 and rear end flap 137. This mechanism 141 included a normally lowered outwardly projecting folding plate 143 which is adapted to be pivoted upwardly to fold the lower end flap 142 upon actuation of the air piston-cylinder assembly 144 through the interposed rack and pinion assembly 141. Prior to the next reciprocation of plunger assembly 72, the plate 143 will be retracted to its lowered position.

The next reciprocation of plunger assembly 72 will place the nearly completed wrapped carton 14 at station V. At this station, the end 'flap paster 145 is actuated by the retraction of the plunger assembly 72. Inasmuch as a pair of paste assemblies 145 are present, each will include a paste receptacle 146 and a vertically reciprocal applicator 147 disposed therein. When the applicator 147 is in a retracted position, it is immersed in the adhesive contained in the receptacle 146. The applicator is connected with the upper end of a piston rod of air pistoncylinder assembly 148 and is biased in a retracted position by means of a spring 149. Upon actuation of the assembly 148, the piston rod is forced upwardly whereupon the applicator 147 with adhesive is extended upwardly into engagement with the inner face of the top end flap 150.

Following the application of adhesive to the top end flaps 150, the partially encased carton 14 is moved to the next station VI during which movement each of the top end flaps 150 are folded downwardly by a suitable folding mechanism which may be simply in the form of a fixed folding template, wire or, as illustrated, the plate 152. It should be understood that a folding mechanism of the type disclosed in the above referenced application may be substituted for the fixed flap folding plate 152 for folding the top end fiap 150 downwardly.

The now completely wrapped carton 164 is shifted to the coding and dating station No. VII upon the next reciprocation of the assembly 72 or after predetermined number of such reciprocations. Naturally, if a coding and dating station is not necessary or desirable, it need not form part of the wrapping machine 10. Suffice it to say that at this station suitable mechanism 166 is provided for applying a suitable code and/or date to the outer face of the carton and at the selected location thereof. A mechanism of this type is disclosed in the above referenced application.

After the selected code and date has been applied to the wrapped carton 164, the cartons may be removed from the wrapping machine and suitably packaged for commercial shipment and distribution.

In summary, the above cycle of operation and handling of the cartons 14 is repeated in accordance with the timed sequence. Thus, the cartons 14 continue to be fed through the inlet opening 42 onto the supporting arms 46 and 48 at which time the switch 54 is tripped 'to energize the assembly 56. The suspended carton 14 is then shifted downwardly between the arms by the pusher plate 68 secured to the piston shaft 66; and eventually the carton comes to rest on the horizontal plate 58. Simultaneously therewith, the switch 70 is tripped to energize the assembly 72. Thereupon, the carton 14 will be shifted forwardly by means of the pusher plate 78 into the lowered length 20 of the selected wrapping material. The pusher arm 78 will continue to feed the carton 14 and length 20 of wrapping material into the initial folding station III. At this station, the front panel 90 and top and bottom panels 92 and 94 together with leading end flaps 96 will have been folded against the associated surfaces of the carton 14. Upon retraction of the piston rod 74, the feed rollers 30 and 32 will lower another length 20 of the wrapping material and the cooperating cutting rollers 30 and 40 will cut and, at the same time, permit the suspension of the length 20 of wrapping material. The lowering of the length 20 automatically occurs upon the closing of the switch 84 during the retraction of the piston rod 74. This switch also keeps the circuit of the switch 54 and assembly 56 open during the reciprocation of the assembly 72.

The partially wrapped carton is now at the third station at which a spot of glue or paste will be applied to bottom trailing side flap 106 by the applicator head 112. Immediately thereafter, the plate 122 will be shifted upwardly to fold the bottom trailing side flap 106 against the rear side of the carton 14; and the plate 126 will be shifted downwardly to fold the top trailing side flap 108 against the flap 106 to secure these trailing flaps to one another. The plate 126 will remain in the lowered position until the plunger assembly 72 is actuated again. The next actuation of the plunger assembly 72 will place the partially wrapped carton at the fourth station on the horizontal table platform 58. During the retraction of the plunger assembly 72 following placement of the partially wrapped carton at the fourth station, the tucking mechanism 138 will initially tuck the rear end flap 137; and thereafter and prior to the next reciprocation of plunger assembly 72, the bottom end flap folding mechanism 141 will fold bottom end flaps 142 upwardly. At the next station V following the next reciprocation of the plunger assembly 72 and during the retraction of the plunger, the top end paste applying mechanism 138 is actuated to apply a spot of glue to the underface of the top end flaps 150. The next reciprocation of the plunger assembly 72 will cause the partially wrapped carton to be placed at the fifth station on the plate 58 during which movement the folding plates 152 fold the top end flaps downwardly over the folded flap 142 whereupon the interposed paste will adhere these end flaps together. Following a predetermined number of further reciprocations of the plunger assembly 72, the code and dating station VI is reached at which the stamping mechanisms 166 apply the selected indicia to the carton wrapping material. The wrapped cartons are now fully folded and coded and ready to be shipped and distributed commercially.

Thus, the several aforenoted objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a single somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A wrapping machine for enclosing at least one package in a length of wrapping material comprising:

a support; assembly means on said support for partially assembling the package in a partially folded length of wrapping material and delivering the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material to a first location, the length of wrapping material having a leading panel extending over one end of the package, top and bottom panels over the respective top and bottom faces of the package, the length of wrapping material having extending trailing top and bottom flaps and extending ends;

trailing flap pasting means on the support for applying a predetermined pattern of paste to one of the trailing flaps;

trailing flap folding means on the support for folding the trailing flaps upon one another with the pattern of paste therebetween, the trailing flap folding means being automatically operated to fold the trailing flaps while the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material are at the first location, the trailing flap folding means including a pair of vertically reciprocal folding plates adapted to move from a first position away from their respective trailing flaps toward one another to a second position into engagement with the respective trailing flaps to fold the trailing flaps upon one another with a pattern of paste therebetween, means for actuating the trailing flap folding plates linearly between the first and second positions and to maintain one of said plates at the second position to maintain the folded relationship between the trailing flaps with the pattern of paste therebetween until another length of wrapping material partially enclosing a package is moved by the plunger means from the initial location at which time said one of said trailing flap folding plates is reciprocated away from the trailing flaps and the lead panel of said another partially enclosed package is moved into engagement with the folding trailing flaps and moved to the first location by the plunger means;

end pasting means on the support for applying a predetermined pattern of paste to the ends;

and end folding means on the support for folding the ends of the wrapping material and securing the end by means of said pattern of paste applied thereto.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the trailing flap pasting means is automatically operated to apply the predetermined pattern of paste to the trailing bottom flap upon delivery of the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material to the first location.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the trailing flap folding means is automatically operated to fold the trailing flaps following the application of the predetermined pattern of paste to the trailing bottom flap when the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material is at the first location.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said end pasting means is at a second location and means on said support cooperates in feeding the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material to the second location.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the end folding means includes tucking means for tucking portions of the ends and folding other portions prior to placement of the partially wrapped package at the second location and the end folding means includes a folding means at a third location at which the folding of the ends is completed following actuation of the end pasting means and means on said support cooperates in feeding the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material to the third location.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein an indicia applying means is. at a fourth location fog applying selected indicia to the completely encased package and length of wrapping material and means for cooperating and feeding the completely encased package from the third location to the fourth location.

7. A wrapping machine for enclosing at least one package comprising:

a support;

a supply means of said wrapping material for supporting and supplying wrapping material;

a package feeder means part of which is on said support for receiving and feeding packages;

a wrapping material feeding means on the support for feeding a length of wrapping material to a first location at which the package is adapted to be wrapped therewith;

plunger means on said support for moving said package from an initial location into engagement with the length of wrapping material and then moving the engaged package and length of wrapping material to a first location at which the length of wrapping material is partially enclosed about the package;

assembly means on said support for partially folding and enclosing the length of wrapping material about the package as the plunger means moves the package from the initial to first locations, the length of wrapping material having a leading panel extending over one end of the package, top and bottom panels over the respective top and bottom faces of the package, the length of wrapping material having extending trailing top and bottom flaps and extending ends;

trailing flap pasting means on the support for applying a predetermined pattern of paste to one .of the trailing fiaps;

trailing flap folding means on the support for folding the trailing flaps upon one another with the pattern of paste therebetween, said trailing flap folding means being automatically operated to fiold the trailing fiaps while the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material are at the first location, the trailing flap folding means including a pair of vertically reciprocal folding plates adapted to move from a first position away from their respective trailing flaps toward one another to a second position into engagement with the respective trailing flaps to fold the trailing flaps upon one another with the pattern of paste therebetween, means for actuating the trailing flap folding plates linearly between the first and second positions and to maintain one of said plates at the second position'to maintain the folded relationship between the trailing flaps with the pattern of paste therebetween until another length of material partially enclosing a package is moved by the plunger means from the initial location at which time said one of said trailing flap folding plates is reciprocated away from the trailing flaps and the lead panel of said another partially enclosed package is moved into engagement with the folded trailing flaps and moved to the first location by the plunger means;

end pasting means on the support for applying a predetermined pattern of paste to the ends;

and end folding means on the support for folding the ends of the wrapping material and securing the end by means of said pattern of paste applied thereto.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein 9 a plunger assembly is operable to move a package from a first position at the inlet end of the wrapping machine to a second position at which the plunger means is adapted to be reciprocated to move the package from the first location to the second location.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein the trailing flap pasting means is automatically operated to apply the predetermined pattern of paste to the trailing bottom fiap upon delivery of the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material to the first location.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the trailing flap folding means is automatically operated to fold the trailing flaps following the application of the predetermined pattern of paste to the trailing bottom flap when the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material is at the first location.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein said end pasting means is at a second location and means of said support cooperates in feeding the partially assembled package and length of wrapping material to the second location.

- 12. The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein the end folding means includes tucking means for tuckingportions of the ends and folding other portions prior to placement of the partially wrapped package at the second location and the end folding means includes a folding means at a third location at which the folding of the ends is completed following actuation of the end pasting means and means on said support cooperates in 9 10 feeding the partially assembled :package and length of 2,917,887 12/1959 Jackson 53230 wrapping material to the third location. 3,110,143 11/1963 Schooler 53230X 13. The invention in accordance with claim 12 wherein 3,127,722 4/ 1964 Schoder 53230 an indicia applying means is at a fourth location for 3,405,503 10/1968 Mizelle et a1 53230 applying selected indicia to the completely encased package and length of wrapping material and means for co- FOREIGN PATENTS operating and feeding the completely encased package 356,344 12/1960 G tB i i from the third location to the fourth location.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner References Clted 10 N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,136,897 11/1938 Thayer 53 -131 x 2,609,646 9/1952 Total 53 430 53230 

